What started as a late-night tow at a Gresham apartment complex has turned into a nearly $1 million courtroom fight. Clenton Jenkins III says a tow-truck driver ran over his leg on May 1, 2024, after he tried to stop the truck from taking his car, and he is now suing the company and its driver in Multnomah County Circuit Court.
In his civil complaint, Jenkins accuses Elite Towing and driver Danny Closser of deliberately rolling over his foot and lower leg. He says the collision left him with bone-marrow edema, possible broken bones, and a financial hit that includes hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost wages.
What the lawsuit says
According to the complaint, Jenkins approached the tow truck and asked the driver to stop. The suit alleges the truck then backed up and ran over his foot, and that the driver later detached Jenkins' car and drove away, as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.
The filing lists more than $100,000 in medical bills and claims lost earnings of more than $150,000. All told, Jenkins is asking for nearly $1 million in damages for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Police records cited in the lawsuit show Closser was not charged criminally in connection with the May 2024 incident, according to the same report.
Towing rules at state and city levels
The dispute lands squarely in the middle of Oregon's tangled towing rules, which split authority between state and local governments. State law sets limits on private-property towing. Under the Oregon Revised Statutes, including ORS 98.854, towing companies generally must get authorization from a property owner or agent before removing a vehicle and must keep signed authorizations on file.
Local governments can tack on extra consumer protections. The Portland Bureau of Transportation notes that a vehicle must be released at no charge if the hookup is not complete when the owner returns. The city also publishes a municipal tow-rate sheet and offers a complaint process for tows within Portland. Those statutes and city rules form much of the legal backdrop for Jenkins' civil claim.
How Jenkins says the collision happened
As described in the complaint and detailed by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Jenkins was visiting a friend at a Gresham apartment complex when he saw a tow truck begin to hook up his car.
The suit says he walked up and told the driver to stop. Instead, the truck allegedly backed up and ran over his foot. Medical reports cited in the filing describe bone-marrow edema and possible fractures. Jenkins' attorneys argue the collision could have been avoided and say he is entitled to compensation for his injuries, medical costs, and time away from work.
Oversight and consumer options
Across the Portland metro area, towing companies operate in a regulatory gray zone that can feel confusing for drivers, especially when a late-night hookup turns into a heated dispute. City offices and ombudsmen regularly handle complaints about improper tows, as shown in case examples compiled by the Portland Auditor’s Ombudsman and on the Portland Bureau of Transportation's regulatory pages.
The Oregon Department of Justice also publishes consumer guidance on towing and takes complaints over alleged predatory or unlawful practices. Residents who believe a tow was improper can use those city and state channels while Jenkins' lawsuit works its way through civil court.
Legal implications
Jenkins' case now moves forward in Multnomah County Circuit Court, where a judge will evaluate police reports, medical records, and the actions of Elite Towing and Closser. Even without criminal charges, the court could still find civil liability and award damages.
For those watching from the sidelines, the case is another flashpoint in an ongoing debate over how private tows are authorized and regulated in the Portland region. Information on court filings and the civil process is available through the Multnomah County Circuit Court site, where this tow-yard confrontation now becomes a matter of public record.
